YAY. Finished the story! It's about Shi Min's love life. LOL. No lah. Just read it if you want. It's quite long though.. Here goes..


Lisa and Gary were known to be the star couple.
Every evening, they would stroll in the park side by side, holding hands. At times they would start conversations together. Sometimes, however, they would just keep silent and enjoy each other's company in peace.
Every so often, they would go out to movies together, have dinner, and Gary would escort Lisa back home to the doorstep. The two were the best and most loving couple anyone had ever known of. Their love for each other was said to last for eternity -- they were the couple everyone looked up to just like an idol.
There was a girl, Shi Min, who had been Gary's playmate and friend since childhood. They had known each other for a very long time and could be mistaken for a couple anytime. However, Shi Min treated Gary as a brother and had no feelings crossing that sibling boundary. Gary never knew if he liked Shi Min. At times he lay down on his bed and wondered if he had feelings for Shi Min, but every single time he would remind himself that he had to be content with Lisa, whom he had met and fell in love with many months ago since he had started schooling in high school.
But one day, Gary was on his way home and saw Shi Min, who was walking alone. All of a sudden, several men appeared and approached her. Their lustful looks made Gary run towards them without hesitation. He shielded her from them, his back facing her, arms spread out, demanding, "What do you want from her?!" Shi Min was surprised and shocked, and totally speechless. The only thing she could do was to stare at them, especially Gary, who was defending her all the time.
The men, upon seeing Gary, gave up immediately. One of them, supposedly the leader, said, "Why get so worked up? We're just walking past.. Yeah? Walking past..." As he said, he looked at his men and they walked off.
Gary spun round and asked Shi Min with a tone completely different from moments ago, "Are you all right?" Shi Min smiled and replied, "I'm fine. Thanks for coming out to help me."
And together they walked home.

---

Gary had been clueless about it, but he was slowly straining his relationship with Lisa.
Gary, whose world had previously revolved around Lisa, now cared less for her and put his focus of attention on Shi Min. He attended to her wants and needs whenever possible and tried to ask her out as soon as he could summon his guts.
Lisa got to know of this and her short-temperedness acted up. She was boiling with rage. That whole day, she pondered on what she could do to destroy the relationship between Shi Min and Gary. Her jealousy slowly turned into hate, and she planned to be rid of Shi Min.
The next day, Lisa walked alone to the park where she had agreed to meet Gary. However, Gary stood her up. He had completely forgotten his date with Lisa -- he was enjoying himself at the beach with Shi Min. Lisa had already expected this, but she had hoped it would not happen. It happened, and it added to her hate. She decided to carry out her plan. It was time for action.
Rounding up her gang of people, she instructed them to beat up Shi Min when Gary left. She knew Gary would see her to her home as he did for her in the past, thus she said to her gang, "Wait for Gary to see her to the doorstep and leave, then spring into action." Everyone nodded.
That night, the gang did as instructed, but it did not work out as well as it was planned to. Gary's sharp hearing and instinct told him something was amiss. He turned and came back for Shi Min. To his horror, he found Lisa's gang members crowding around Shi Min.
Running as fast as he could, Gary reached them and punched them out of his way. He found Shi Min on the floor, seemingly unconscious. He carried Shi Min past the surprised gang and ran to the hospital. There, he took special care of Shi Min and was by her side day and night. He would bring her food and water, give her whatever was necessary.
One day, as Gary was pouring her a glass of water, he sat down and held Shi Min's hand in his. He grasped it tightly and inhaled deeply.
"Shi Min," he began, "I...... There's something I want to tell you."
"Yes?"
Stammering, he tried to get the words out, "I.. I.. love you. It.. It.. w-was love.. love at first sight."
Shi Min was stunned. She stared blankly and thought deeply. Then, she replied, "But Gary... I thought we were just like brother and sister."
"I know, but I could not control my feelings. I'm sorry.. Could you..." He held Shi Min's hand even tighter and lifted it, his elbows on the hospital bed.
Shi Min, however, closed her eyes for a second. When she opened her eyes, she shook her head and retrieved her hand, saying, "I'm sorry."
Gary's heart was broken. He looked down. Standing up, he glared at the floor. After some silence, he spoke up, "I guess you have to rest now. I'll take my leave. See you.. another day..." And he was gone.

---

Back home, Gary went into his room and locked the door. He lay spread out on his bed and pondered deeply.
"Why? Have I not been nice to her? Why??"
He thought of all the times he had been with Shi Min.
Suddenly, memories of the beautiful times he had had with Lisa came into his mind. In a flash, he wondered aloud, "How have I not been content with Lisa? She had brought me.. happiness..."
And with that, he made up his mind to make it up to Lisa.
The next day, he saw Lisa at school and ran up to her. Lisa spotted him at the corner of her eye and walked briskly in another direction. However, Gary did not give up. He cried as he ran, "LISA!"
Lisa stopped dead in her tracks.
Gary seized the opportunity before she went away. He approached her and said, full of remorse, "Lisa. I'm sorry. I know.. I realised... I had been foolish to leave you. I know now how much I should treasure you.."
He took her hand in his. "Please."
Lisa smiled and nodded lightly.

---

Hence, the star couple had once again regained their title. It was as if nothing had ever happened, and they were as they were in the past. Everything went smoothly for the couple. Both of them were said to be inseparable, always seen together.
But Shi Min, upon her discharge, knew what had happened. She felt a swell of envy built up within her. This envy turned into jealously. She then realised that she had feelings for Gary -- but it was too late. Gary had made it up with Lisa, and they were together again. But this only made Shi Min more determined than ever to gain back the love from Gary she once possessed but had not cherished.
She did all that she could -- act cool in front of Gary, act cute in front of Gary, acted as she was not just to please him. All this did not work. Finally, after some time, Shi Min felt that she could take it no longer. She gave up.
From then on, she acted as what she was. No more acting cute, nor acting cool. She did not wish to please Gary any longer. Her hopes were totally dashed.
However, Gary, seeing Shi Min as what she was, began to feel a bit for her again. When she had not acted herself in order to attract his attention, he had found it irritating and despised what she did. But now, when she was herself again, he saw the beauty in her -- her as herself and not the Shi Min he had not known.
He had a change of feelings once again. Lisa could sense it. For months, it dragged on. At last, Lisa could take it no longer. She felt that Gary had been lying to her all along. Her heart was shattered. Thinking she had no other alternative, the all-rounded Lisa decided to commit suicide. Thus, one day, she climbed to the highest floor of the apartment she lived in. Taking a last look at the world which once seemed so beautiful and flawless, she inhaled deeply. The next moment, she jumped off the ledge and left the world.
Gary was devastated. Although he liked Shi Min, he had feelings for Lisa as well, though less than what he felt for Shi Min. Feeling guilty for all he had caused, Gary attended to her funeral and everything else.
When it was all settled, Gary remained as he was. For a while, he had felt nothing for anyone else. His only concern was for Lisa.

---

Months later, Gary began to devote all his love and attention to Shi Min. Being a rich man's son, he could provide for Shi Min's wants and needs which were required money to obtain. But this did not last long.
Shi Min's father, who was a smoker and gambler, gambled away all the family had. They soon became bankrupt. Gary, who loved Shi Min wholeheartedly, gave her all the money. He could bear to see Shi Min and her family become bankrupt. He would rather work much more than he ever did in his life than watch her suffer. Therefore, he found a job and worked as he studied in high school.
All that he had was not enough to help Shi Min entirely, and his father would not provide money for him just to give them all to Shi Min. Gary became desperate and borrowed from loansharks. The interest rate was high, and Gary had to find multiple jobs in order to return the money he had borrowed.
However, the money he earned was not enough to pay off his debt, which increased day by day.
One day, he told Shi Min, "We can't go out today.. I've got something on." And he went out.
Shi Min felt that something was amiss. She decided to tail him. He had come to a deserted area. Some men, who appeared to be gangsters, were standing there. One of them had his arms folded, and seemed like the leader. Gary went up to him and said apologetically, "I've not enough money to pay back what I had borrowed..."
"NOT ENOUGH MONEY?!" The leader shouted. He sneered. With his head tilted to one side, he looked at his men from the corner of his eyes. Then, he shifted his head, which meant, "Beat him up."
Gary knew some moves, and his men were beaten one by one. Shi Min, who had been hiding behind some thick bushes and watching, realised that the men were loansharks.
All of a sudden, a man with a chopper sneaked up behind Gary. Shi Min sprang up without hesitation and ran towards him. She shielded Gary and the chopper struck her. She fell to the ground immediately. The loansharks saw this and were gone in a second, thinking they had killed her. Gary fell to his knees. He sat Shi Min up and shook her.
"No, no! SHI MIN!!" He cried out.
And, as if he had recovered from his confused state of mind, he retrieved his handphone from his pocket and dialled for the ambulance.

---

It soon arrived with the wail of sirens and several attendents rushed out. After carrying Shi Min onto the stretcher they had brought out they proceeded to put her into the ambulance. Gary followed and sat by her side, holding her hand throughout the journey.
The ambulance sped off to the hospital at the speed of light. On the way, Shi Min had regained consciousness, but was still weak. Gary held her hand close to him. Then, he suddenly searched in his pockets and took out a small box. It contained two rings.
There and then, he proposed to Shi Min. "I've kept this for a long time.. I didn't know when to take it out.. But now... I know it's the wrong time to do so.. But.."
Shi Min smiled weakly.
They got married between themselves there in the ambulance, and Gary had no idea if he was to smile or break into tears.

---

The ambulance reached the hospital at last, and Shi Min was sent into the emergency room. Gary could not sit nor stand still. He paced up and down outside. Once he sat, but within minutes he stood up and walked up and down the corridor again.
After what seemed like an excruciatingly long period of time, the doctor came out. It was just like in TV dramas. "I'm sorry," he began, "we've tried our best. Take the chance and see her for the last time."
Gary's heart fell. He rushed to Shi Min. Sitting aside her, he leaned over. Wrapping her hand in his two hands, he held them tight. Tears streamed uncontrollably down his cheeks and fell to the floor like scattered pearls. Shi Min, in her weak state, whispered, "Don't cry over me..."
Gary shook his head, holding her hand more tightly than ever.
She smiled and said again, "I want you to promise me..." She struggled as she continued, "Live life normally after I'm gone.."
Gary shook again. This time, he said, "No.. No.. You won't.. No.. Don't leave me.."
"Promise me."
Gary closed his eyes as tears continued to stream down. Finally, he opened his eyes and nodded his head mildly.
Shi Min smiled upon seeing this. Whispering, she said, "Yes.. Good.. That's good..."

Slowly, her eyes closed. On her face was that everlasting smile of content.

THE END

Credits:
Plot - Angeline

Copyright (c) Meanie Association.